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Dallas lifted a shoulder and looked at her. “It’s just the way he is, babe. Cole doesn’t get close.”

“But you’re his family.”

“Yes, and I’ll always be his family. He doesn’t do well in these cozy situations. He . . . he likes to be alone.”

“That’s sad.”

Dallas’s expression turned soft. “What would make it sad is if I expected more from him than he can give. Cole cares—he just doesn’t know how to show it. He even has a soft spot for you, Lexi, and Tess. But family hangouts aren’t his scene. He’s there when we need him and that’s what matters.”

“Like if someone’s dying, right?” She tried to bite back the sharp note to her voice, but it came out too quickly.

Dallas leaned forward and set his glass on the tabletop with a sharp clank. He caught her free hand in his, his gaze earnest. “Babe, please. Accept Cole for who he is. Don’t hold him to standards he isn’t capable of meeting.”

She nodded slowly. “You’re right. Sorry.”

He kissed her knuckles. “Don’t be. I love that you want us all together. Maybe one day he’ll come around. But it’ll be in his own time.”

She took another drink and lowered her glass. A smile tugged at her lips. “Do you think I went too far with the card game last time?”

Dallas let out a hoot of laughter. “Jesus, that was painful. Even Nash and Dare were out of their comfort zones. And yeah, I’m sure that’s why he hasn’t come over since.”

Gemma covered her face with her hand and laughed. “Lexi thought it was hilarious.”

“Lexi would. She enjoys ribbing Cole.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “Let’s just have a good night and not worry about Cole.”

She stood and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. His stubble was rough and scratchy beneath her palm. She pulled away and stared into the hazel eyes that held the key to her soul. “I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather spend my time with than you.”

He caught her hips and pulled her down on his lap. Her pink sundress hiked up on her thighs at the movement, and Dallas’s hand immediately rested between her legs. “Let’s call the whole damn night off. Whose stupid idea was this anyway?”

She chuckled and pinched his chin. “Yours.” She pressed her lips to his, but he quickly deepened the kiss, sinking his tongue into the cavern of her mouth.

“Goddamn, I love you,” he said against her lips.

“Mmm. I love you too.”

His fingers found her panties.

She squirmed. “Dallas. Don’t you dare. They’ll be here—”

Ding dong!

Dallas let out a ferocious growl. Gemma leaped from his lap, unable to stop the bubbles of laughter from escaping her lips. She opened the screen door to enter the house, but Dallas’s hands were on her ass, snatching up the material and reaching under.

“Dallas,” she hissed, as she crossed the apartment and approached the front door.

He pressed his hand to the wood before she could open it. “We’re going to make this an early night. Got it?” His voice was low, barely above a whisper. Heat emanated from his stare and desire made his pupils dilate.

Her cheeks flamed with need. “You bet your ass.”

He kissed her lips, and lust pulsed inside her. Months ago, she would have balked at the idea of living with Dallas, sharing this kind of space and time. Now, she couldn’t get enough of him. Those days in Ecuador had fused them together.

Had created a bond that couldn’t be broken.